Fifth-wheel.



No. 747,878. PATENTBD DEG. 22, 1903.

W13. FLETCHER.

FIFTH WHBEL. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8. 1903. N0 MODEL.

INVENTOH A TTORNE YS.

sys

NTTED STATES Patented December 22, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patent No. 747,878, dated December 22, 1903.

Application filed August 8, 1903. Serial No. 1768.770. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known thatl I, WILLIAM BURLEY FLETCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cameron, in the county of Marshall and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fifth- Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in fifth-wheels for vehicles wherein the friction and strain is reduced to a minimum'and dust will be excluded from the working parts. n

The object of my invention is to provide a device for the purpose mentionedwhich shall be cheap, simple, and eicient.

My invention consists in certain novel features of construction, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims, reference being` had to the accompanying drawings, in which-v Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one mode of application of my improvement. Fig.

2 isa vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a de tached perspective view of the upper member of the device. Fig. 4. is a similar view of the lower member thereof. Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view showing the plate for attaching to axle. Fig. 6 is a detail plan showing the dischargepassage and groove leading thereto. y

In carrying out my invention I construct the fifth-wheel of two members-an upper memberAand a lower member B. The member A is made with a convex upper surface and a downwardly-projecting annulailiange A', which fits over and incloses the lower member B. Said memberAis also provided with a central opening a, through which is passed a bolt to secure it in position on top of member B. As shown in the drawings, the upper surface of member A may be provided with an angle-plate A2, to which the bolster of a vehicle is to be secured, said plate A2 being located forward ofthe central opening d. To the upper surface of member A may also be secured the plate A3, whichllas rearwardly-diverging members as d?, having their edges bent to form flanges d4, within which fit the reaches of the vehicle. An oil-feed hole a passes through the cap member A and is closed by a screw-plug d2 or other suitable means.

, is attached.

'in the' raceway.

The lower member B is provided with an annular groove or channel Bin its upper face, said groove being substantially semicircular' in shape, forming a race to receive a suitable number of aulifriction-balls C. Said l balls are of such size as to rest in the groove B and project above the Hat upper surface of member B, and upon these balls rests the upper or cap memberv A. A- waste oil or drainage passage b leads from the groove or ball-race B to and through the lower surface of member B, and said passage may be closed by a screw-plug b. Member B also has a central vertical opening which registers with the central opening in the upper member, and through these openings is passed the kingbolt D, having the nut E on its lower'end toy hold the two members together in their proper relation. i

To the lower surface of member Bis secured a transverse inverted- U-Shapedplate B2, within which is secured the axle E. This 'plate B2 is located forward of the vertical center of member B andiu alinement with the angleplate-on'top of member A, to which the bolster These plates are respectively placed just above and below the front balls The object in so placing thexnis that as the bolster and axleare-to be secured to them the main strain will be v borne by the antifriction-balls, thus reducing Vthe strain on the king-bolt and obviating the liability of said bolt breaking, as is quite common in the ordinary type of fifth-wheels.

While I have shown the bolster, reach, and axle attaching means as separable attachments, it is obvious and in many instances preferable, according to the type of vehicle, to make these parts integral withthe upper and lower members, it being understood .that

they will occupy the same relative positions vas indicated in thedrawings.

- By means of the oil-feed passage oil or lubricant may be fed to the antifriction-balls, and if at any time it be desired to draw off the accumulation of oil in the raceway the wastepassage may be opened-for that purpose.

The overhanging flange A' extends downwardly a Iconsiderable distance on the sides of member B and excludes all dust and dirtV from the interior oi' the device, as well as equalizing the strain in all directions.

ICQ

It will be seen that by the use of the antifriction-rollers a freely-working fifth-wheel is produced, the friction between the various parts being reduced to a minimum, and one in which the strain is equalized and practically removed from the king-bolt, thus materially lessening the liability of breakage thereof from any cause. This advantage is also increased by locating the points of atv tachment for the axle and bolster or other part forward of the pivotal center of the device. The nut on the lower end of the kingbolt is prevented from unscrewing by any suitable nut-lock.

It will be observed that my device is simple, can be easily and cheaply manufactured, as it consists of few parts, and is susceptible of adaptation to various forms of vehicles and running-gear. Instead of the double-reach plate a plate for a single reach may of course be used.

As shown in Fig. 5, the attaching-plate B2 may be provided with a rearwardly-extending slotted part b2, the slot b3 of which permits it to be slid under the nut E and embrace the bolt D. It is then securely held in place by screwing up the nut tight against it.

As shown in Fig. 6, the waste-drainage passage b is surrounded by a small depression or groove bx, which directs the waste oil to said passage Z9.

By having the upper face of the cap member A convex moisture, dirt, te., will be shed from the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. Afth-wheel for vehicles, comprisingan upper and lower member pivotally secured together, the upper surface of the upper member being convex, and its under surface a horizontal plane,said u pper member provided withadownwardly-projectingannularHarige, the lower member having its uppersurface a horizontal plane and provided With an annular ball-race in said upper surface, antifriction-balls within the annular ball-race, the lower member fitting within the annular flange of the upper member, and means located forward of the vertical centers of each member forattachment to the body and axle, respectively of a vehicle,said attaching means being placed in vertical alinement with the front 'antifriction-balls.

2. A tifth-wheel for vehicles comprising an upper member having a convex upper surface and provided with a downwardly-projecting annular flange, a lower member fitting within said ange, and pivotallysecurei to the upper member at the vertical centers thereof, said lower member provided with an annular ball-race in its upper face, antifriction-balls in said ball-race, the upper member provided with an oil-feed passage, and the lower member having waste-oil passage leading from the ball-race through the lower face of said member, and means located for- Ward of the vertical aXis of each member in vertical alinement with the front antifrictionballs for attaching said members to the body and axle respectively of a vehicle.

3. A fifth-wheel for vehicles comprising an upper member having a convex upper surface and provided with a downwardly-projecting annular flange, a lower member fitting within said flange and pivotally secured to the upper member at the vertical center thereof, said lower member provided with an lannular ball-race in its upper face, antifriction-balls in said race, the upper member being provided with an oil-feed passage and the lower member having a waste-oil passage leading from the ball-race through the lower face of said member and guide-grooves leading from said race to the waste-oil passage, a removable plug for closing said waste-passage, and meanslocated forwardly of the vertical aXis of each member for attaching said members to the body and axle, respectively of a vehicle, said attaching means being in vertical alinement with the front antifriction-balls.

WILLIAM BURLEY FLETCHER.

Witnesses:

JAs. D. PARRIOTT, W. R. BARNETT. 

